“Mississippi State’s steady rhythm drew me in,” said MacKenzie Paul, a 2023 MSU graduate. “The beautiful campus, southern charm, close knit community, and easy living sang to me. I didn’t begin my career in the College of Arts & Sciences, but soon after beginning my studies, I realized my interests were shifting keys. Transitioning to the CAS allowed me to study the ideas that resonated most deeply with me: human relationships, emotions, theology, and philosophy. Joining CAS was like stepping into a choir where every voice mattered, and where the arts and sciences blended into a rich harmony that finally felt like my own song.”

“From working big tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, winter storms to supporting the Deepwater Horizon oil spill event and being deployed to support a Superbowl, they have all had a lasting impact on my journey,” said Kenneth E. Graham, a 1994 MSU geosciences graduate who today serves as the director of the National Weather Service. Before the NWS, he served as director of the National Hurricane Center.

Mississippi State’s Grisham Lecture Series continues this month with a talk by 2025-26 Grisham Master Teacher Kelly Moser on purposeful practices in teaching.